EMPOWER - Module 3 - Building Search Strategies

Build Your Search Strategy...

You have all the components to build your Search Strategy...

• Preliminary Keywords
• Different Search Fields
• Boolean Logic Operators

How you assemble the components depends on the way you divide your research and the research project requirements!

If you only need to find movie times at the local theater, you probably only need one Search Strategy component.

Advanced research requires you to combine multiple Search Strategy components to thoroughly complete your project.

To Build Your Search Strategy:

1. Look at your Preliminary Keywords. Pick 2 - 6 words that cover 2 - 3 concepts you need to research.
2. Decide what Search Fields work best with each search.
3. Use Boolean Logic Operators to link your words and Search Fields together.
   • Do not forget to use Quotation Marks, Truncation, Wildcards, and Nesting!

Example:

Resulting Search Terms:

Keyword (Default) - Using OR / Quotation Marks:

"The Taming of the Shrew"

OR

"As You Like It"

AND

Keyword (Default) - Using OR / Wildcard:

Female

OR

Wom?n

AND

Subject

Shakespeare, William

This is how this example appears in the PSC Library Catalog search: